The first pair of the revered Bewick’s swans have landed in the UK, marking the official beginning of the winter season. The pair, Heerlen and Olga, were joined by a lone swan named George II at WWT Slimbridge in Gloucestershire.
Bewick’s swans are small, graceful white birds identifiable by their distinctive black and yellow bills. Each year, they journey an astonishing 3,500 kilometers from the Arctic wetlands of Russia to the UK, escaping the harsh Arctic winter.
Their arrival is prompted by the drop in temperatures across continental Europe, prevailing north-easterly winds, and the need for ice-free wetlands to rest and feed.
READ MORE: Cotswold Wildlife Haven Faces Threat from Proposed Development Near Cheltenham
Martin McGill, Reserve Manager at WWT Slimbridge, shared, “Growing up, I admired the Bewick’s swans here, but working on the reserve revealed to me just how sacred these birds are. WWT Slimbridge is a unique place that allows visitors to see the swans closely, thanks to decades of trust and a special bond between the swans and the reserve.”
Heerlen first spent a winter alone at Slimbridge on December 1, 2020, while Olga visited as a cygnet with her parents, Orkney Reed and Doodles, during the 2021-22 winter season. The pair formed their bond in the winter of 2023-24.
Shortly after their arrival on November 17, eight more Bewick’s swans, including the familiar visitor Maisie, arrived at the center, bringing the total to 11 swans, including a young cygnet. Maisie first wintered at Slimbridge in 2014 at the age of two and was fitted with a tracker in January 2015. Another swan, Maifeld, joined her in 2016, and they have consistently returned each winter since.
The history of monitoring Bewick’s swans at Slimbridge dates back to 1964, when the WWT founder and renowned conservationist Sir Peter Scott began studying them. Since then, over 10,000 Bewick’s swans have made the reserve their winter home.
The reserve team describes these swans as an iconic and cherished element of the winter landscape and soundscape at WWT Slimbridge, enchanting visitors season after season.